This Death of the Family tie-in lets the boys in red shine.

by: Melissa Grey

January 30, 2013

Although frequently beleaguered writer Scott Lobdell often finds himself as the focus of fan ire because of his characterizations, he and co-writer Fabian Nicieza hit a home run with Teen Titans #16. The issue features what is arguably the most spot-on interpretation of Tim Drake’s internal angst and sets it off nicely against his fraught relationship with his brother in red, guest star Jason Todd.

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Red Hood and Red Robin haven’t always seen eye to eye, but it’s a relationship deserving of more a nuanced take than it usually gets. While it’s known that members of the Bat-family will forgive but never forget, writers too often let their characters forego the good memories for the sake of the bad, particularly when Jason Todd is involved. Lobdell and Nicieza quite literally throw the boys into a cage in order to explore the complexity of a brotherly bond that has been repeatedly torn asunder and haphazardly mended.

Lobdell and Nicieza's take on the Joker is equally commendable and it’s an excellent reminder as to why this character is so enduring. The duo balances the Joker’s intelligence with his insanity and the play between the machinations of Tim Drake, widely understood to be the Smart Robin, and the Joker is a treat to behold.

Brett Booth’s art is stellar throughout the issue, but it truly shines in the claustrophobic scenes involving Jason, Tim, and the Joker. The forced sense of an enclosed space, the panel busting fight scene between the two reluctant allies, and the Joker’s increasingly creepy visage are all deftly handled by the team of Booth, Norm Rapmund (inks), and Andrew Dalhouse (colors).

The issue’s greatest failing is its overabundance of ambition. Lobdell's story tries to cram in the Red Hood/Red Robin team-up, the Joker, the Outlaws, the Teen Titans, and a surprise appearance by Trigon and Company, and the end result feels more than a little bloated for a single issue. Ultimately, it’s a solid addition to the Death of the Family arc, but the book’s greatest strength lay in its guest stars, so the prognosis for next month is hazy at best.

Melissa Grey is a lover of all things cats, comics, and tech nerditry. She can be found on MyIGN at MelissaGrey or lurking on Twitter @meligrey.